Napkin holder



May 31, 1949.

B. A. SCHROEDER NAPKIN HOLDER Filed Sept. 18, 1947 Patented May 3 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFECE.

NAIKIN HOLDER Bernard A. Schroeder, Winnetka, Ill.

Application September 18, 1947, Serial No. '774,870

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a napkin holder forming part of the buckle of a waist belt.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- Vide an ornamental napkin holder which will enable the wearer to secure one corner or edge of a napkin to the belt buckle and prevent it from accidentally falling from his lap. It is a common experience to have paper napkins or even linen napkins fall to the floor several times during the course of a meal. Some men tuck the corner of the napkin under the belt, or fasten a paper napkin to a button, but by the present invention the napkin is easily and securely held in position by a clip on the buckle itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lever type of spring clip in a slot made in the end bar of the buckle. By nger pressure applied to the upper side of the lever, the jaw is opened so that the napkin can be inserted readily.

Another object of the invention isto provide a clip which is so designed that no sharp edges or corners project from the buckle when the device is not in use.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing how a napkin is held by the improved device; Fig. 2, a fragmentary front elevational view of the device; Fig. 3, a plan sectional view, taken as indicated at line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 4--4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a plan sectional view, taken as indicated at line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, a waist belt 6 is provided at one end with a buckle having a tongue 'I and a frame 8 having an end bar 9. The end bar is provided with a narrow upwardly extending slot I0 in which a lever member Il is pivotally mounted on a pintle I2.

The lever member has an upwardly extending arm I3 which may be pressed inwardly into the slot I0, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. A downwardly extending gripping arm I4 has a serrated under face I5, and its lower end portion normally bears against the lower end of the bar 9 adjacent to the slot I0. The lever also has a downwardly extending rear arm I6 which bears against a coiled compression spring I1 tting in a bore IB. The bore is from the rear oi the bar 9, but does not extend to `the front face of the bar, in order that a hidden seat I9 is provided. The spring constantly urges the gripping arm into the position shown in Figs. 2 and`4. As it is a compression spring, there is no danger of its becoming stretched or broken, and in closed position the lever merely looks like an ornamental piece of the buckle frame. When it is desired to grip a napkin, it is merely necessary to press inwardly on the arm I3 and a napkin 20 may have its corner portion inserted between the bar 9 and the serrated face of the arm I4.

The device shown in the drawings is a mans belt with a metal buckle. However, a similar gripping device can be provided on a womens belt. Various forms of buckles or keepers, made of metal or plastic, can be substituted, if desired.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therel from, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1 A napkin holder comprising: a waist belt buckle frame provided with a slotted end bar; a lever, pivotally mounted in the slot in said end bar, including a downwardly extending gripping arm to engage the bar` and an opposed handle arm which is depressible into the upper portion of said slot; a spring seat in the slot; an extension on said lever; and a compression spring mounted between said seat and extension so as to urge yieldingly said gripping arm against said bar.

2. A napkin holder comprising: a waist belt buckle having at one end a bar adapted to be secured to one end of the belt and the buckle also having a fastener for adjustably gripping the opposite end portion of the belt; a napkin fastener pivotally mounted on said buckle for clipping a napkin against said buckle, said napkin fastener having a gripping arm on one side of the pivot and a handle arm on the opposite side of said pivot; and a spring engaging said buckle and the napkin fastener and urging said gripping arm into yielding engagement with the buckle.

BERNARD A. SCHROEDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 660,236 Worth Oct. 23, 1900 913,469 Cleaveland Feb. 23, 1909 2,081,410 Stark May 25, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 785 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1895 11,096 Great Britain July 8, 11909 

